The fallout from the
Rolling Stone rape story gone wrong continues. The
magazine apologized and then
amended its apology without flagging the fact that it had been updated.
While this is a worthy lesson in the consequences of sloppy journalism and how important it is for publications and reporters to both earn and keep the trust of their readers, it's important not to lose sight of the very real problem of campus rape that is slowly but surely coming to light.
Mother Jones magazine features some of the startling statistics, most of which come from two studies on campus sexual assaults that were conducted by the same researchers in 2007 and 2009.
Here's a glimpse:
• One in five undergraduate women experience sexual assault while in college.
• Of the women who are sexually assaulted, 34 percent are physically forced, 57 percent are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and four percent are given drugs without their knowledge.
• Four percent of undergraduate men experience sexual assault while in college.
• More than one quarter of victims say their assailant was a fraternity member.
• Before college, sexual assault perpetration rates for frat members and non-frat members are the same. In their first year of college, 8 percent of frat members and 2.5 percent of non-frat members commit sexual assault.